Matthew Boulton: Enterprising Industrialist of the Enlightenment

by Sally Baggott, Kenneth Quickenden (Editor)

Overview

Matthew Boulton was a leading industrialist, entrepreneur and Enlightenment figure. Often overshadowed through his association with James Watt, his Soho manufactories put Birmingham at the centre of what has recently been termed 'The Industrial Enlightenment'. Exploring his many activities and manufactures-and the regional, national and international context in which he operated-this publication provides a valuable index to the current state of Boulton studies. Combining original contributions from social, economic, and cultural historians, with those of historians of science, technology and art, archaeologists and heritage professionals, the book sheds new light on the general culture of the eighteenth century, including patterns of work, production and consumption of the products of art and industry. The book also extends and enhances knowledge of the Enlightenment, industrialization and the processes of globalization in the eighteenth century.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781317099307
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/13/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	312
File size:	20 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Professor Kenneth Quickenden is Research Professor at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham City University. Dr Sally Baggott was Librarian and Curator at The Birmingham Assay Office and is now Research Facilitator, College of Arts and Law, University of Birmingham. Dr Malcolm Dick is Director of the Centre for West Midlands History, University of Birmingham.

Table of Contents

1: Introduction; 2: Matthew Boulton, Birmingham and the Enlightenment; 3: Matthew Boulton – Innovator; 4: Was Matthew Boulton a Scientist? Operating between the Abstract and the Entrepreneurial; 5: The Origins of the Soho Manufactory and its Layout; 6: Boulton, Watt and Wilkinson; 7: Matthew Boulton's Copper 1; 8: The Mechanical Paintings of Matthew Boulton and Francis Eginton; 9: Samuel Garbett and Early Boulton and Fothergill Assay Silver; 10: Hegemony and Hallmarking; 11: Dark Satanic Millwrights? Forging Foremanship in the Industrial Revolution; 12: Workers at the Soho Mint (1788–1809); 13: Matthew Boulton's Jewish Partners between France and England; 14: Enlightened Entrepreneurs versus ‘Philosophical Pirate' (1788–1809); 15: Creating an Image; 16: The Death of Matthew Boulton 1809

Editorial Reviews

'[Jim] Andrew’s chapter is a gem.' Engineering & Technology 'This book will prove useful for readers with general familiarity or interest in Boulton who wish to advance their understanding, and will also provide historians of technology, enlightenment scholars, and business and labor historians with a range of case studies that showcase the analytical techniques of different fields.' EH.Net 'this volume fulfills an important mission in providing a well-rounded portrait of this key personality and his times. ... comes nicely illustrated with real footnotes, a useful bibliography ... and an index that ties the separate articles into a unified whole.' The Historian

From the Publisher